“Tim McGraw” Composer Liz Rose Is SESAC’s Songwriter of the Year

Liz Rose, co-writer of the Taylor Swift hits “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops on My Guitar,” won SESAC’s songwriter of the year award Monday (Nov. 5) in ceremonies held at the publishing rights organization’s Nashville headquarters.

Brian White’s “Watching You,” a No. 1 for Rodney Atkins, was named song of the year. Rose’s publishing company, Hillsboro Valley Songs-Sony ATV Timber, took the publisher of the year trophy.

A violent thunderstorm moving through Nashville just before the festivities started menaced the event since both the reception and dining areas were housed in large tents attached to the SESAC building. Winds tore at the canvas, and torrents of water spewed across the reception area floor. However, by the time the ceremonies started, the storm had tapered to a drizzle.

Several artists who had recorded SESAC songs were in the audience, including Swift, Atkins, Trent Tomlinson, Carolina Rain and Lady Antebellum.

Pat Collins, SESAC’s president and chief operating officer, welcomed and recognized special guests, among them Nashville’s new mayor, Karl Dean. Collins awarded a trophy to Nancy Shapiro and Susan Stewart of the Recording Academy in honor of that organization’s 50th anniversary.

SESAC’s associate vice president of writer-publisher relations, Tim Fink, honored Bart Herbison and Steve Bogard of the Nashville Songwriters Association International for the organization’s 40 years of supporting songwriters.

The trio Lady Antebellum, which will release its first album on Capitol Records early next year, offered a musical interlude with its current single, “Love Don’t Live Here.”

Dennis Lord, SESAC’s executive vice president, announced the creation of a Wall of Fame to celebrate “those who have paved the way for all of us.” The first honoree is former SESAC vice president Dianne Petty, who was not in attendance.

Fink presented the Spirit of SESAC award to Amy Beth Jones, the widow of singer-songwriter Buck Jones, who died in an automobile accident in March. “Buck was my soulmate, and he will forever be right here,” Jones said. She noted that her husband had left behind many unfinished songs that their young son might one day complete. “His little boy is so Buck,” she added.

Following Fink’s announcement that “Watching You” had been named song of the year, Atkins, his band and co-writer White came forward to sing the song. Atkins, who is also a co-writer of the hit, explained that it was inspired by his going to pick up his son, Elijah, at his pre-kindergarten school. He said the boy’s teacher complained that he was causing disorder in the ranks by singing his daddy’s hit, “If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows),” instead of standing in line and keeping quiet. That incident gave rise to “Watching You,” which focuses on children imitate their parents.

Fink then invited Swift to the stage to help him confer the songwriter of the year trophy on Rose. “She believed in me when I was a 14-year-old without a record deal,” Swift said. Working with Rose, she added, was “the most effortless” co-writing situation she had ever experienced. Her favorite thing about Rose, Swift continued, was that she was more interested in giving credit than taking it.

Rose struggled against tears during her brief remarks and praised Swift for the positive impact she had had on her and her family. Besides the award, Rose was also given a custom-made Gibson acoustic guitar.